The Charm of Mt. Fuji

What's the most tallest mountain in Japan? Of course it's Mt. Fuji, you know.

Even for Japanese people, to climb up the Mt. Fuji is one of the things they are longing for, but 

actually, the available period to climb up the Mt. Fuji is only from early July to early September.

If you miss this period, Mt. Fuji will be closed and no one can get in there.

That's why the Mt. Fuji tour and events around Mt.Fuji is held from the beginning of June, and a lot of climbing gears make good sales from this season. In addition, since the Mt. Fuji became the World Heritage that UNESCO has prescribed in 2013, a lot of people began to start the climbing as a sport from last year.  

What makes people willing to climb up Mt. Fuji? The reasons are not a few.

First of all, Mt. Fuji has the best name value in Japan about its elevation, and its beauty. 

Second, Mt. Fuji's mountain trails are maintained very well, so you can climb up to the peak with sightseeing. Moreover, there is variety of historical sightseeing spots around the mountain trails, such as Sengen Shrine, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, and Shiraito Falls. Those sightseeing spots are very famous among the mountain-climbers to visit.

If you are planing to climb up Mt. Fuji, you never want to miss the sunrise view from the summit of Mt. Fuji. Several Mt. Fuji climbers visit the summit to see this speechless sight of the Japanese No.1 mountain. Only people who reached the summit can see and feel this amazing sunrise view as the reward of the hard exercise. 

Do you feel you want to climb up the summit of Mt. Fuji, now?

Even the beginners can challenge to Mt. Fuji, and its mountain trails are well maintained, it's a highest mountain in Japan, so you need to have knowledge and to be prepared.

With that said, i would like to summarize the notes to challenge the Mount Fuji.

Note 1: The period to climb Mount Fuji is only from early July to early September. 

Mount Fuji is opened only for 2 months. 

Other than this period, snows falling on Mt. Fuji,  and the huts are closed, so it's very dangerous to climb up there. Even in September, the possibility of snowing will be increase. For beginners, to climb Mt. Fuji in between July to August is recommended. 

*Depending on the mountain trails, opening-closing timing varies even during early July to early September, so it is recommended to check  the opening status of each mountain trails before your challenge.

Note 2:The  general route of Mt. Fuji climbing.

You can go by car or bus until Mt. Fuji's 5th station, so it is common to start climbing from 5th station. Then, select the route that fits you from typical 4 routes. The 4 routes are as below.

1. Fujinomiya route ( Trail-head: Fujinomiya 5th station, Shizuoka Prefecture) 

2. Yoshida route ( Trail-head: Fuji Subaru line 5th station, Yamanashi Prefecture) 

3. Subashiri route ( Trail-head: 5th  Subashiri 5th station, Shizuoka Prefecture)  

4. Gotemba route ( Trail-head: Gotemba new 5th station, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Note 3: The weather of Mt. Fuji.

Near the Mt. Fuji's summit, the elevation is 3,776 meters above sea level, the temperature is  6 degree Celsius average in August, the temperature difference between the basement and the summit is about 20 degree Celsius or more. There are 1,000 to 2,000 meters elevation difference between the trail-head and 5th station, in the 5th, the temperature difference between the summit and 5th station will be 10 ℃ or more. 

In addition, you also better to watch out for the winds. 

Near the summit, very strong wind blew, the wind speed exceeds the 20 meters/h, and sometimes it's even hard to keep standing up. In September, snow starts to fall as well. 

Beginners should climb Mt. Fuji in between July and August. 

※ There may be a possibility that snows are  still remaining even in early July.

Note 4: Have enough time to plan your Mt. Fuji climbing.

While Mt. Fuji climbing, sometimes climbers abandon the climbing by altitude sickness. 

Especially in the case of bullet climbing, altitude sickness can occur because the body cannot get used to the altitude. In order to enjoy climbing safe and comfortable, it is necessary to plan the climbing process taking you days to get used to the mountain's environment. 

Note 5: Never forget to carry your snowsuits.

As I explained in Note 4, temperature is different between the starting point and the summit

(Approximately -0.6 degree Celsius in every 100 meters altitude ). Therefore the temperature at the summit is as well as the winters even in the summer season. In addition, when the wind blow, the sensible temperature gets down very quick (-1.0 degree every 1 meter/h) . The summit equal midwinter is the correct thought.

Note 6: Never walk on the outside of the trails.

Walking outside of the trail cause of rockfalls and the lost. Do not walk outside of the trail ways.

Note 7: Keep the mountain clean.

This is not only for Mt. Fuji, but for nature protection, let's take all trashes back.

Note 8: About toilet of Mount Fuji.

When you use the toilet in the Mt. Fuji, usage fee for about 100 to 300 yen is asked as tips. 

In mountain's higher altitude, it takes costs to maintain the toilet, so let's pay the usage fees to use it.

Note 9: Prevent the altitude sickness.

- Before departure, stay and take a break for two hours at the 5th station to get used to the        altitude.  

- Walk slowly at a constant pace

- Take short breaks in certain period. Not too long, not too short is better.

- Drink a water constantly. Risk of altitude sickness increases if you hold to drink water to            avoid to go to toilet..

- Take deep abdominal breathing

Note 10: Go to the hut when the physical condition gets bad.

During Mt. Fuji climbing, you should not do unreasonable behavior.

You must climb at your own pace, and go to the hut if you felt your physical condition worsens, turn back in some circumstances is also an important choice.

Those are 10 important things you have to note when you climb the Mt. Fuji.

Finally, let me introduce you the women's climbing gear shop Arucoco's recommend 

climbing coordinats. 

Recommended Cordinates

When you climb up the high mountains, the head lamps are essential.

When climbing the Mt. Fuji at night, a head lamp that illuminates your feet is the required item. 

Thinking about lighting up your feet from 8 pm to 4 am, it's better to prepare the extra batteries. 

If you align further, sunglasses, neck warmers, crimp tights are also good items to carry with. 

If you want to achieve the summit of Mt. Fuji, and want to see the sunrise view, those items are very very helpful.

Please, have a well preparation, and make wonderful memories.

That's all for today. Thank you for reading.

Ohara Festival in Shibuya

In Japan, usually festivals are held in summer, but in May 18th, "The Ohara Festival" was held in Shibuya Tokyo jumped ahead.

To have "The Ohara Festival" in Shibuya. Around the scramble crossing and 109 department,
center of Shibuya was closed to have a big parade.
People wore Yukata and Happi, and dancing the Bon dance on the road. Festival showed a large swelling.

The "Ohara Festival" is a festival originally held in Kagoshima Prefecture in the southern Japan.
In Kagoshima Prefecture, several festivals were held, but after World War 2,
most of the festivals were disappeared because of the damage.

Four years after WW2, a festival had been started in Kagoshima, with the citizen's burning soul of the reconstruction and to cerebrate 60 years anniversary of Kagoshima city.
This is "The Ohara Festival."

It has been 17 years since the first "The Ohara Festival" in Shibuya was held.
In Shibuya's "The Ohara Festival", various groups performs different type of the Bon dance to compete which one is the best.

People can see the dance, and can hear a variety of songs,
so people who didn't know that it's a festival stops by and enjoy the sight opening in front.

Although Japan is a small country, there are difference in between areas in their characteristics.
The people born in Kyushu area, which Kagoshima is located, have power and strong in drinking.
Just as their said characteristics, they performed powerful and energetic dancing.

Visitors to Shibuya on this day must be enjoyed the sound of drums and heat of Bon dance.
You can check the photos for this Ohara Festival at the official website.
Please take a look and try to feel the energy.

Ginza, The Longing Town

What comes up in your mind when you hear "Ginza"?　Brilliant? Fashionable?
Or maybe expensive?

Let me tell you about Ginza a little bit.　Ginza is one of the biggest downtown in Japan.
The name "Ginza" came from the reason that Ginza is used to be a town of foundry in Edo era(1603-1868).　"Gin(銀)" means silver, and "za(座)" means the place that people gather in Kanji.　Around Ginza four-chome intersection is the most expensive place in Japan.

Just as its name, many brand shops are lined in Ginza.
HERMES, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, FENDI, Cartier, lined shops are all distinguished brands.
Not only Japanese, Ginza is a shopping spot for tourists from abroad.

Contrary to the modern downtown, KABUKIZA, where the Kabuki shows are held is located in Ginza as well.

Again, many tourists from abroad are seen here.
Modern and traditional, it is interesting point of Ginza that opposite cultures are co-existing.
There is no wonder Ginza is being a tourist's spot.

Besides brand shops and Kabukiza, there are also department stores located in Ginza.
Mitsukoshi, Ginza Wako, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya, PRINTEMPS GINZA, there are many of department stores in Ginza.

In these department stores, variety of special events are often held for a limited period.
At PRINTEMPS GINZA, there was an event called "Beads Marche" held from May 15th to 20th.
"Beads Mania," an online shop that handles beading goods and kits that used beads, was joining this event.

At the special event venue, many audience and customers visits, and is bustling than usual.
You can check the special events schedule at each department store's websites.

Why not to check them out and come visit if you have chance to visit Ginza?
It must be fun!

”mont-bell," An Outdoor Brand that Japan is Proud of

Today's topic is about outdoor goods.

Although outdoor sports are originated in Europe and the United States, there is an outdoor goods brand called "mont-bell" that Japan is proud of. "mont-bell" shares the majority of Japanese climbing gear market because of their functional and fashionable quality.

Climbing of course, "mont-bell" handles camping, canoe, fishing gears at the shops located all over Japan. 

The difference from other outdoor brands is that "mont-bell" focused on women's wear.

"Mountains are the world of men," is an old fashioned thoughts. Recently, young women tend to go out for outdoor, wearing fashionable outdoor wears. Not only fashionable designs, those wears have to have enough life protective function, light and compact. So, in order to make those wish come true, "mont-bell" has been  developed a new material focused on the items that have ingenuity in design. 

Women's climbing gear shop "arucoco" handles many popular climbing wears, and the most popular items are mont-bell's wrap shorts. It looks like a mini-skirt. It is a popular item for Yama-girls, which I introduced in my previous article. 

Let me explain about the elasticity of wrap skirt.

If you climb the mountain, elasticity is pretty important. The wrap shorts of "mont-bell" has elasticity in its cloth, you can up and down your legs very comfortably, and it will deduct the fatigue of your legs. 

Next, let's focus on its fashionably. The inside looks like a pants, but it's like a skirt from the outside. The length is not too long, and not too short, which is ideal. The color is plain, so it's very easy to match colorful leggings or check shirts. This plain color multiplies the fashion coordination. 

Finally, the design is remarkable. With a belt that, to put on and take off, and waist adjustment is pretty easy. Also, you can sit down and stand up comfortably. 

Not a few Japanese women become climbing lover because of the cuteness of climbing wears, so outdoor fashion get a lot of attention just like the wrap skirt. "What's next?" The fans of "mont-bell" is always waiting for the brand's new arrivals. 

For those fans, "mont-bell" continues to provide fashionable products with high functionality.

More Use, More Tasty, The Kendama Apple

Japanese traditional toy, Kendama(bilboquet, cup-and-ball), is being loved since long time ago in Japan. Even though Kendama is a toy, there are a number of tricks to play. For instance, you can stab the sword by the rotation of the sphere, and also you can put the ball on the "dish" located in three places, or,  on the contrary, you can stab the sword to the sphere, thus the skill is different. The is Kendama Championship held in Japan because of its population.

Let me introduce you an interesting Kendama, an apple Kendama.This apple Kendama is invented by Japanese forest conservation organization called "more trees" under a thought of "greens to the future of children." "more trees" is an organization established by a Japanese musician Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto with a concept of "more trees in the world." Now that deforestation has progressed on a global scale, climate change has become significantly, what can we do? The missions of "more trees" are to plant the trees, grow them with health, to build sustainable local activity through reforestation, and to contribute to long term global environment.

The original products of "more trees" are hand made by forefront designers under a concept of "Wander Forest."

--------------------------------------------
[Materials] wild cherry tree, a birch, hinoki cypress
[Designer] Yasuhiro Suzuki
[Size] W6.5×D6.5×H19cm
[Country of origin] Japan
--------------------------------------------
Apple that triggered Newton to discover the "law of gravitation." In order to make a toy that can experience the gravitational pull of the earth, "more trees" has been cited in the most famous apple.

The paint of this apple Kendama's surface will be off by embezzling,  it will be looks like the skin of a real apple. In addition, 5% of the product's ｒevenue will be donated to "more trees,"
and the income will be used for the activities of the forest conservation organizations involved in reducing CO2 emissions. "More use, more tasty."

A Kids furniture shop "Kodomo to Kurashi(Living with children)" is selling this product to appeal f
or environmental issues. Their wish is to return a lot of trees for the future of our children with feeling a warmth of natural wooden toys.

Japanese Curtain; Sudare

Following the bamboo fence of the previous article, there are other garden supplies using bamboo in Japan.
Now, we tend to rely on air conditioning in summer, but in Japan we used to use "Sudare", which means
bamboo blind as heat protection.

Because Sudare is an old way to block the sunlight, it is no longer found in the old-fashioned houses,
Sudare is like a curtain that is hung down to the edge of the eaves and out the window, and are used as awning.

While the curtains or blinds, screens are disseminating, Sudare is still people's favorite because of its Japanese-tone looking and its ease of use.
In modern architecture, sometimes Sudare is used for interior and exterior.

One of the online shops "Garden Youhin Yasan(Garden Goods Shop)" has Sudare as their popular item.
Especially, the vertical Sudare, which covers and hides the window is recommended.


It is pretty easy to use, you just prop up against the window.
As the picture, if you set a Sudare, it will be a cool garden with a taste at Japan.

One of the items at Garden Youhin Yasan called "High-Quality Sudare" is woven with a bamboo called "Medake," it is strong and last a long time.
It is said that 20 years sevice life.

Because "High-Quality Sudare" is using strong and tough wires to tie, winds cannot blow it away easily since it's heavy.
Wanna see how tough it is?

It cannot be breakable even a man of 176lb gets on it!

And an another good point of Sudare is evergy saving and eco.
Sudare blocks the sunlight and keeps the cool, also cooling effect in the room increase, and power saving effect is expected.
In addition, Sudare also blindfold when people see the room from the outside, and winds through the gaps of Sudare to replace the air.

In Japan, in this year as well, people will enjoy the Japanese style summer of watermelon, Soumen, Uchiwa, and Furin.

Bamboo Fence; The Taste of Nippon

In Japan, May is the time that season changes from spring to summer. The temperature is becoming warm as 60 to 77 degree Fahrenheit.

The season of cherry blossom is over, but then tulips and roses are blossoming.
Gardening events are held over country in this season.
For instance, around Tokyo area, 160,000 of tulips are in full bloom at Yokohama park.
At there, because the Yokohama Stadium is contiguous to the park, several baseball game watchers with their kids and bird watchers, and couples visit the place.




Also, at the Hitsujiyama park in Chichibu, a city of Saitama prefecture which located in next to Tokyo, has Phlox sublata in full bloom. The Phlox of Hitsujiyama park boasts one of the largest in the Kanto area, and the Phlox drawn with colorful design is overwhelming. (Planting area is about 176,000 m2, 9 types of Phlox, and about 40 million roots.) 
 Moreover, the Phlox subulata in the area of Mt. Fuji is also famous, and the Fuji Phlox Festival will be held in the Mt. Fuji area from April 19th to June 1st. Fuji Phlox Festival is one of the largest flower festival around Kanto area. It is amazing to watch, so if you have plan to visit Fuji in this season, it is recommended to go watch it.

 As Japan gets into the season of flower festivals, Japanese people starts to take care of their gardens at house. One of the online shop called "Garden Youhin Yasan", which means garden goods store, handles several stylish and fancy gardening items. Items of European style is also popular, but here I would like to focus on the fences of Japanese taste "Takegaki (bamboo fence)". 

 Takegaki is a fence that woven with bamboos. Takegaki is an essentioal for the gardens of Japan, and any gardens will be changed to Japanese garden once Takegaki is set. These Takegakis are seen especially in Kyoto, and bamboo forests to make bamboo fences are also recommended as one of the tourist spots.

 Finally, in June, Hydrangea macrophyla will be in full bloom, so if you would like to enjoy Japanese temples and beautiful flower, Kamakura is the recommended place to visit.

By this article, I hope you to have even a little bit of interest to the beauty of the four seasons of Japan.